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The death toll from the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6th has now climbed to over 7,000, with more people still unaccounted for. Desperate rescue efforts are underway, hindered by aftershocks and harsh weather conditions.
In response to the tragedy, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim for Syria, El- Mostafa Benlamlih, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Muhannad Hadi, have reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the affected communities. They have called for urgent support from donor partners to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the disaster.
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TURKEY EARTHQUAKE UPDATES
The 7.8 magnitude tremor struck at 04:17 (01:17 GMT) on Monday at a depth of 17.9km (11 miles) near the city of Gaziantep, according to the US Geological Survey. (BBC)#TurkeyEarthquake https://t.co/08bE5DIdrE
1/7— Hot Seat News (@TheHotSeatNews) February 7, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden has also expressed his condolences for the victims and their families. He has authorized an immediate U.S. response, directing senior American officials to reach out to their Turkish counterparts to coordinate any necessary assistance.
The U.S. is deploying teams to the region to support Turkish search and rescue efforts and address the needs of those injured and displaced by the earthquake. U.S.-supported humanitarian partners are also responding to the destruction in Syria.
The earthquakes have brought new devastation to a region already blighted by years of civil war and economic collapse. With nearly 70 percent of the population needing humanitarian assistance even before the disaster, the humanitarian community is urging all parties to ensure unfettered access to the affected districts to provide timely and coordinated assistance.
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